It’s becoming increasingly clear that no matter how much employees may prefer a remote or hybrid work arrangement it’s not a path toward career advancement. Employees who have resisted returning to the office see in large and small ways that being in the office matters. Some employers even acknowledge that a return-to-office mandate is one way to decide who stays employed and who does not.
A survey from ResumeBuilder.com found 76% of those surveyed said in-person employees are easier to train. 15% find remote employees easier to train, and 10% see no difference. 58% said in-person employees are better leaders. 13% see remote workers as good leaders. These in-person employees are also believed to have effective communication skills and are viewed to be more trustworthy and accountable with a better attitude.
“With the advent of remote work, managers have had to adapt to overseeing their teams without the traditional in-office presence,” said Stacie Haller, Chief Career Advisor, Resume Builder. “The old management techniques no longer apply effectively to a remote workforce, highlighting a need for new training and strategies.”
This has also highlighted that many managers do not have the needed skills and experience to manage and motivate staff when they are remote workers. Managers who were surveyed believe staff who are in-house are easier to manage. Here, the manager can have more control and influence over in-office employees. This leads managers to view the management of remote employees less favorably, Haller continued.
Many of the managers surveyed believe remote employees require more supervision than their in-office counterparts. Other contributing factors include a belief that remote workers miss more deadlines, have more attendance problems, have a negative attitude, have more technical issues and are more incompetent than their in-office peers. 25% of managers are more likely to fire remote workers as compared to 17% who are more likely to fire in-person workers. The survey looked at the opinions of 626 managers of in-person and remote employees.
Meanwhile, a 2024 Work Futures Study from Dexian found 62% of employees desire flexibility as they become less interested in full-time work. The study measured the growing disconnect between what workers want and need and what employers deliver.
32% said they would consider looking for another job if full-time, onsite work was mandated by their employer. 78% of workers said it’s extremely/very important when looking for their next job that an employer offers a full range of employment options. This includes full-time, part-time perm, full-time and part-time temporary, independent contractor, consultant and gig arrangements.
Despite employee preferences for remote or hybrid work, it appears these arrangements may hinder career advancement. Many employers are prioritizing in-office presence for factors such as training, leadership, and accountability. With 78% of workers prioritizing diverse employment options and 32% willing to seek new jobs if needed to work full-time onsite, organizations may need to rethink their approach to keep talent in an evolving work environment.
